Immigration
America is a nation of immigrants—and a nation with a broken immigration system. To grow and lead the world, manufacturers need a secure border and a legal immigration system that works. Fixing our system will strengthen our workforce, fuel innovation and ensure America remains the best place to make things.
Immigration
Make immigration work for America.
Manufacturers can’t find enough skilled workers to fill the jobs they have today — and the gap is widening. A secure, merit-based legal immigration system is essential to closing the workforce gap and securing America’s industrial future. The NAM is fighting for reforms that pair strong enforcement with legal pathways that work.
Source: National Association of Manufacturers, “Make Immigration Work for America.”
Where the NAM stands
Secure borders and legal pathways that work
Manufacturers support an immigration system that is secure, legal and merit-based — one that enforces the law and gives employers the workers they need.
Secure the Border & Enforce the Law
Mandatory E-Verify with enhanced identity authentication and strong visa-program integrity, so the system is enforced and trusted.
A Year-Round Workforce
A guest-worker program for the essential, year-round roles modern manufacturing depends on — not just seasonal work.
Modernize Seasonal Visas
Expand and streamline the H-2A and H-2B programs so employers can meet fluctuating demand legally.
Grow High-Skilled Talent
Raise the H-1B cap with spousal work authorization, preserve F-1 student flexibility, and lift employment-based green-card caps.
Certainty for Long-Time Workers
A legal pathway for workers brought to the United States as children, so manufacturers don’t lose skilled employees.
A Manufacturing Visa Office
A dedicated office for expedited, sector-specific processing that gets manufacturers the talent they need, faster.
Bipartisan solutions
The legislation manufacturers are backing
The Dignity Act
Bipartisan reform pairing border security with legal pathways. Sponsored by Reps. Maria Salazar (R-FL) and Veronica Escobar (D-TX).
Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act
A year-round visa program for essential industries. Sponsored by Reps. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) and Don Davis (D-NC).
In action
Fighting for a workable system
From the agencies to Capitol Hill, the NAM is defending the legal immigration manufacturers depend on.
- September 2025The NAM files comments defending the F-1 student-visa pipeline and engages the White House on the new $100,000 H-1B fee and proposed lottery changes.
- Late 2025The NAM opposes ending automatic work-authorization (EAD) extensions and a DOL prevailing-wage proposal that would curb high-skilled immigration.
- February 2026The NAM endorses the bipartisan Dignity Act to help repair the nation’s immigration system.
- OngoingThe NAM presses Congress and the Administration for a secure, merit-based system that pairs strong enforcement with legal pathways.
Close the workforce gap. Secure industrial dominance.
Manufacturers need a workforce that can power American production. Help the NAM advance a secure, merit-based immigration system that delivers.
